Karl Rove bashing Nazis was *not* on my dystopian bingo card. Where the fuck are we?

Evan McLaren@evanmclaren.bsky.social · last wk.

I'm not saying guys like Karl Rove are suddenly good, but it bears mentioning that he is having an extended moment of clarity that large swaths of the institutional media still has yet to achieve. www.salon.com/2026/09/28/g...

Me, pondering: well that's not really evitable, is it? My brain gives me linguistic joy sometimes.

"I read both your books and loved them." I am delighted when anyone reads any of my books, but if you are trying to woo me, I've published six. (This was an adult low-key seeking something from me. I save my snark for adults.)

Wandering around my lil house singing: I- HAVE- NO FOCUS TODAY! NO FOCUS, YOU SAY? NO FOCUS TODAY! I- HAVE- NO FOCUS TODAY! HOW I'M GONNA GET SHIT DONE?

In Western Mass? I'll be on a panel at the Carle with some great folk! carlemuseum.org/visit/events...

As hard as we are fighting, book bans are having an impact on the books being written and published. To put this another way, a very small number of well-funded people who don't write books, don't teach books, don't work in libraries are trying to decide what books are available for everyone else

Book Bans ‘Kill Creativity,’ Sow Self-Doubt in Authors

For the past few years, author Charlotte Sullivan Wild has been working on a picture book about an LGBTQ+ family who learns to cope with one member’s deployment to the military. The story is inspired…

pen.org

Google AI is trying to summarize the AI spamming me. I hate it here.

It surprises me how often I stun people with this writing advice, so I'll just remind you here: You don't have to start at the beginning. It probably won't be the beginning anyway. You can write the part you can see/hear/imagine best and go from there.

OUR 2026 SCHOLARSHIP WINDOW IS NOW OPEN! Boyds Mills offers scholarships each year thanks to the generous support of our community! Apply now! 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄 January 22 – February 9 Click the link in our bio for all the details!

Do you know trans youth aged 19 and younger who might want a piece in the second issue of Chrysalis? Submissions are open! www.chrysalismagazine.org/submissions

semi-regular reminder that ICE was only created in 2003 when you are asked to imagine a world without ICE, you're basically being asked to remember where you were when Lilo & Stitch came out

Can I name the three friends in my WIP Kay, Elle, and Emma? Asking for a friend. (I'm my own best friend.)

I've finally reached the place as an author where I have the project of my heart and the project that will get me a contract and I have to make myself work on one and not the other. Take that, imposter syndrome!

My new upcoming events page: Alex currently has no public events scheduled. If you would like to fight against book bans, consider checking out any of the partner organizations listed here (link to @authorsabb.bsky.social.) And see what's going on in your local libraries and school districts!

Go home, AI. You're drunk.

This week on the Book Faire Podcast, we have an interview with @alexgino.bsky.social author of Chris Makes a Friend! #podcast #kidlit #middlegrade open.spotify.com/episode/2CPs...

Exploring Friendship and Diversity in Children's Literature with Alex Gino

open.spotify.com

🎉 Congratulations to CHRIS MAKES A FRIEND on being an Amazon Editors' Pick for the month of November! 🎉 Cheering for and celebrating with you, @alexgino.bsky.social! @literaticat.bsky.social

I really truly didn't think there was anything in the Epstein files that was new or surprising but like they're straight up refusing to seat a Republican House rep because she'll vote to release it and the House basically hasn't existed since like September Moreover, ICE must be destroyed

A reminder thay if your senators and congressperson are not contacts on your phone ... they could be. And to be honest (maybe this isn't great), calling my reps is easier for me now than it's almost always a voicemail not a person answering the phone.

Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie@audrelawdamercy.blacksky.app · 12mo ago

Oh for the love of Sharing, since I just googled these so I could leave angry voicemails telling these motherfuckers to hold the line Schumer's DC office number: 202-224-6542 Gillibrand's DC office number: (202) 224-4451

The latest AI/scam bruhaha is from surprisingly officially named local book clubs (today's is "The San Diego Women's Book Club") offering for their group to read one of my books. PSA: Book clubs do not need permission to read a book. Just sayin'.

heads up to anyone who holds trans kids near: amy harmon from the nyt is searching for and having a hard time finding people to interview to find out exactly what trans kids are doing when their care is limited or cut off, and for purposes of community safety, please shut the fuck up around her.

MRS. Z'S CLASS is growing!! Happy book birthday to @mikejungwroteabook.bsky.social & @marthabee.bsky.social whose new books THEO CHANG IS NOT A CAT and THUNDER NELSON DOES THE IMPOSSUMBLE are out today from @littlebrownyr.bsky.social, both illustrated by the inimitable @katfcomix.bsky.social!

It's my *SIXTH* book birthday!!! CHRIS MAKES A FRIEND releases today in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook (read by me!) I'm really proud of this one for a lot of reasons. It's about annoying little siblings and about having a mom with chronic pain. Chris is independent but also maybe lonely.

Congratulations to @alexgino.bsky.social, the author of the groundbreaking middle grade novel, MELISSA on the release of their latest middle grade title, CHRIS MAKES A FRIEND. Happy book birthday and welcome to the world!

A reminder that if you see someone stealing food NO YOU DIDNT

Matt Novak@paleofuture.bsky.social · last yr.

California police boost patrols at grocery stores as millions set to lose SNAP benefits

Youtube has a music service!They're still a big company, yeah, but I'm already paying to avoid ads in videos. And wherever you transfer to, there are lots of tools online to help you move your library.

50501: The People’s Movement ❌👑@50501movement.bsky.social · last yr.

Y’all, Spotify’s stock price sunk by 5% in 1 day. YOU did this by spreading the word to boycott them for running ICE ads. These billionaires only speak one language—money—so let’s keep up the pressure. Tell everyone you know to cancel their Spotify subscriptions. Send them to BoycottSpotify.com.

My personal Tripledent Gum (Inside Out) is George Costanza's outgoing voicemail song. I wasn't even that into that show, but I'll belt that one out randomly. Believe it or not, I'm not hooooome. 🎶

The kids are not alright. Longitudinal research shows that rates of mental health distress among LGBTQ+ youth have increased since 2023, that they're less able to access mental health care, and that nearly 1/4 have been threatened with conversion therapy. www.latimes.com/science/stor...

LGBTQ+ youth's mental health struggles are getting worse, according to a new survey

A new survey from the Trevor Project found that between 2023 and 2025, LGBTQ+ youth reported an increase in anxiety, depression and suicide ideation.

latimes.com

hey! My new MG, CHRIS MAKES A FRIEND releases in 2 weeks! This may be the book I'm proudest of yet. I did a *thing* and I'm excited to share it with you! You know the deal - first week sales matter and the best way to remember is to not have to. Pre-order at: highfivebooks.org/products/chr...

Chris Makes a Friend

From the award-winning author of MELISSA, a sweet and tart story about unexpected friendship and family reconciliation.THIS IS NOT THE SUMMER CHRIS HAD PLANNED...Chris does not want to be spending the...

highfivebooks.org

EVERY BOOK BANNED FROM THE READING BOWL HAS BEEN RESTORED!!!!! The kids will be able to read and compete over all 20 books. Raising the issue made a difference. Teen advocates made a difference. docs.google.com/document/u/0...

Open Letter from the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl State Steering Committee

Open Letter from the Georgia Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl State Steering Committee October 15, 2025 To Our Reading Bowl Coaches, Students, Librarians, and the Georgia Reading Community: Over the past sev...

docs.google.com

kelly jensen@heykellyjensen.bsky.social · last yr.

Eight books have been banned from an optional state-wide Reading Bowl in Georgia–an event meant to encourage young people to read. The steering committee pulled those titles with no reason, including a title about....the impact of book bans. bookriot.com/helen-ruffin...